Africa-Press – Uganda. The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has urged officers under Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) to broaden their understanding of global and regional security dynamics, saying this is critical to preserving Uganda’s stability and supporting the country’s economic transformation agenda.
His message was delivered on Friday by UPDF Spokesperson and Director of Defence Public Information, Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, during a high-level address to more than 320 OWC officers attending a week-long retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.
Gen. Muhoozi emphasized the importance of grasping the complex interplay of geographic, demographic, political, economic, cultural, and environmental factors that shape global security, foreign policy, and the projection of state power.
“The essence of sustainable security lies in safeguarding a state’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and the welfare of its citizens from both internal and external threats,” Gen. Muhoozi said.
The CDF highlighted Uganda’s secure environment as a result of deliberate government investment in law enforcement, cybersecurity, border management, and infrastructure development.
He noted that peace and order have not been accidental but are a product of strong legal frameworks and institutional preparedness, including legislation like the Anti-Terrorism Act (2002, amended 2017).
Gen. Muhoozi stressed the need for vigilance, warning against complacency amid current peace.
He called on OWC officers to stay alert and informed about evolving security threats, including cybercrime, terrorism, cross-border conflicts, and refugee crises.
“While Uganda is largely peaceful, we must remain alert and proactive. There are growing threats in the region and globally that we cannot ignore,” he noted.
Muhoozi further called for the strategic use of technology to improve intelligence gathering, community policing, and national surveillance, adding that Uganda’s natural resources should be utilized to reinforce both economic and social security.
He also pointed to opportunities for Uganda through regional cooperation, peacekeeping, and multilateral engagements, particularly in cybersecurity and counterterrorism, which he said are becoming central to global security operations.
The retreat, which opened on Monday, brought together OWC coordinators, executive assistants, directors, and other personnel with the goal of aligning their operations with Uganda’s long-term development strategy, particularly the Tenfold Growth Plan outlined in the upcoming Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
The agenda includes sessions on strategic planning, collaborative service delivery, and tackling implementation bottlenecks in the Government’s wealth creation programs.
As Uganda pushes forward with ambitious economic goals—aiming to grow its GDP from shs187 trillion to over shs1,870 trillion by 2040—security and good governance remain at the center of national progress.
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